Insurance Group: 9
MPG: 48.7
CO2: 134
0-62 Mph: 11.9 secs
BHP: 84 BHP
Range: 482 miles
Although its performance isn't outstanding, the Polo can hold its own against most superminis and even a lot of bigger family cars.
PROS: The Polo SEL 1.4 has a very spacious and well-built interior. It also has a reliable engine and low running costs.
CONS: The engine is slightly underpowered. Its performance statistics are lower than that of its rivals and, considering this is one of the more expensive Polos, the level of standard equipment is a bit mean.
The 1.4 litre petrol engine produces a modest 84 bhp, which means the Polo can sometimes feel underpowered. The car can do 0-62 mph in 11.9 seconds and will reach a top speed of 110 mph.
The engine is quiet at cruising speeds. The suspension in the car is tuned to provide a very comfortable drive, and the light steering means it is a simple and enjoyable car - even if the Ford Fiesta does offer a sharper, more exciting driving experience.
The Polo is a very comfortable car, with a spacious interior and a dashboard that is easy to navigate.
The Polo is a great looking car. It is Volkswagen's smaller alternative to the Golf, but looks similarly sporty.
Although equipment levels are mean in the lower-spec cars, this Polo SEL does offer some features and driving aids. These include electric windows, electric mirrors, air conditioning, MP3 connectivity, CD player, ABS and alloy wheels.
Climate control, cruise control, electric sunroof and a satellite navigation system are among the optional extras.
The Polo can seat four adults comfortably and although it is classed as a supermini, it will give bigger family cars such as the Vauxhall Astra a run for their money.
It is a very safe car, scoring five stars in Euro NCAP ratings, and it comes with the great build quality that would be expected from a brand like Volkswagen.
It is very spacious inside; the boot is a good size too at 280 litres, and the back seats can be folded down to create even more space, giving you 952 litres.
The Polo also comes with an engine immobiliser and an alarm system and a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty.
The Polo SEL 1.4 costs £15,425 brand new, which is on the expensive side, especially when you consider the BlueMotion version is only £55 more and will have considerably lower running costs.
The running costs on this car aren't going to break the bank by any means though. It delivers 48.7 mpg which means fuel costs will be pretty low. The CO2 emissions of the Polo SEL 1.4 are also relatively low, at 135g/km, although BlueMotion models improve considerably on this.
Insurance and road tax are similarly cheap, with the car in insurance group 9 and tax band E.
The car also comes with fixed service costs for three years. Like all Volkswagen's, this Polo will retain its resale value very well due to the brand's reliability reputation.
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